Gulf of Aden Security Review - November 30, 2018

Yemen: President of the al Houthi Supreme Political Council vows to liberate southern Yemen; Hadramawt governor meets with U.S. ambassador to Yemen; STC President asserts that the STC must be included in peace talks to stabilize Yemen

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants seize town near Baidoa, Bay region; SFG deploys federal police to Badioa; al Shabaab claims raid on Ugandan troops in Qaryull, Lower Shabelle region; SNA forces capture Jilib

Yemen Security Brief

President of the al Houthi Supreme Political Council Mahdi al Mushat vowed to liberate southern Yemen from the grip of southern forces and the Saudi-led coalition in a November 29 statement commemorating the 51st anniversary of the independence of south Yemen. Mushat equated the Saudi and Emirati presence to British colonization. Mushat reiterated that the al Houthi movement supports UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths’ efforts to achieve a political solution in Yemen and asserted that the al Houthi movement will attend December 4 consultations in Sweden.^[1]

Hadramawt governor and Chief of Staff of the Second Military District Major General Faraj Salmin al Bahsani met with U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Matthew Tueller in al Mukalla city, southern Hadramawt governorate, eastern Yemen on November 29. Al Bahsani and Tueller discussed the role of the second military district in Hadramawt in fighting al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).^[2]

Transitional Political Council for the South (STC) Vice President Hani Bin Brik asserted on November 28 that peace is not possible in Yemen if the STC is not included in UN-led peace consultations. Bin Brik confirmed that neither the STC nor the Southern Movement have received invitations to attend talks in Sweden set to begin on December 4. Bin Brik stated that the STC continues to reject the Hadi government’s authority in southern Yemen and that it is drafting a constitution for the south.^[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Al Shabaab militants seized control of a small town near Baidoa town, Bay region, southern Somalia on November 30. Al Shabaab militants attacked a regional Somali National Army (SNA) military base with small arms fire and explosives in Gofgudud-Burey town, Bay region, southern Somalia. SNA forces evacuated the base following the ambush.^[4]

The Somali Federal Government dispatched 100 federal police to Baidoa, Southwest state, southern Somalia on November 30. The security minister of the Southwest state, Admin Hassan Hussein Mohamed, reported that the federal police will assist in ensuring peaceful elections on December 5. Mohamed warned that al Shabaab is planning to destabilize Baidoa.^[5]

Al Shabaab claimed a raid on a Ugandan African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base in Qoryoley town, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia on November 30.^[6]

The SNA claimed its forces captured Jilib near Marka, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia on November 30.^[7]